IN NATIONAL NEWS: Comedian Robin Williams, 63, dies in apparent suicide A6
TUESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2014
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5 myths about Facebook’s messenger app debunked A3
Missing man spent week in swamp Fisherman spots him in waist-deep water in Lewis Road creek BY BRISTOW MARCHANT bristow@theitem.com (803) 774-1272 Authorities think a man found in a swampy area south of Sumter may have been lost in the area for a full week before he was located by a fisherman Sunday night. Sumter firefighters dropped an engine ladder off the side
swamp between Kingsbury Drive and U.S. 15. He was about to head home for the evening when he reportedly spotted RICHBURG Richburg moving in the bushes along the creek bank, calling for help. Emergency responders called to the scene wondered
of the Lewis Road bridge to rescue 52-year-old Fredric Matthews Richburg from waist-deep water, bringing to a close days of searching after Richburg was reported missing from his Miller Road home. Richburg was located about 7:52 p.m. Sunday by a man fishing in the creek off Lewis Road, part of a large wooded
how best to reach the stranded man. “When the initial request came in, they wanted a small boat to go get him,” said Battalion Chief David White, part of a five-man crew from the Stadium Road fire station that rescued Richburg. Responders didn’t realize it at the time, but the man lost in the swamp was the subject of a
Locals celebrate National Health Center Week
dayslong search by the Sumter Police Department. Help was sought from the public in locating Richburg because of health fears; he presumably had not taken his normal prescription medication for days during his ordeal. Richburg was last seen leaving his home at Miller Arms
SEE MISSING, PAGE A6
School board races get crowded More candidates seek district trustee spots BY RAYTEVIA EVANS ray@theitem.com (803) 774-1214
JADE REYNOLDS / THE SUMTER ITEM
From left, Rep. David Weeks, D-Sumter; Holly Chase, director of community development for Sumter Family Health Center; Sonya Del Rio, outreach and enrollment coordinator at the center; and Sondra Richardson, outreach and enrollment specialist, attend the legislative luncheon put on by the health center on Monday. This week is National Health Center Week with numerous local special events.
Facilities have special events scheduled BY JADE REYNOLDS jade@theitem.com (803) 774-1250 It’s time to celebrate your local health centers. This year’s theme for National Health Center Week is “America’s Health Centers Local Engines for Healthier Communities.” “Health centers are a proven model that has delivered multiple returns on
ONLINE Visit theitem.com for a list of scheduled events celebrating National Health Center Week.
the federal investment for the past 50 years,” said Annie Brown, CEO of Sumter Family Health Center. “America’s community health centers, like Sumter Family Health Center, have been leaders in showing the value of this approach as an effective way to address more needs, improve health and contain costs. Community health centers help to eliminate the barriers caused by financial circumstances or
social situations that may prevent people from having access to health care.” Such centers also offer employment to community members and help reduce the cost to taxpayers by offering an alternative to getting primary health care through emergency rooms, said Holly Chase, director of community development for Sumter Family Health Center. Sumter Family Health Center served more than 13,700 individual patients last year. Sandhills Medical Foundation Inc. serves 8,000 patients in four counties including Sumter, said LaVonda Johnson, program director, and it’s important to
SEE HEALTH, PAGE A6
A crowded field is developing for all of the Sumter School District Board of Trustees seats available in November’s elections, as additional candidates continue to enter various races. MORE Filing for the upcomINSIDE ing election Filing closes has been Friday for city open for alcouncil seats. most a A8 month, and as of Monday morning, 12 candidates had filed with the local Voter Registration and Election Office in hopes of being elected this year, including three incumbents. Board members Karen Michalik, Patty Wilson and Keith Schultz will all have competition for their seats representing areas 2, 3 and 4, respectively. Previously, Wilson and Schultz said they have an interest in rerunning for the board to continue to help move the district forward. Michalik said she is rerunning to continue to be the voice for the parents and children of her area and to contribute to the
SEE SCHOOL BOARD, PAGE A8
Donations dwindle as fundraiser draws toward a close BY JADE REYNOLDS jade@theitem.com (803) 774-1250 There are two weeks left to donate in the inaugural Summer of Caring, and United Ministries is still in need of funding. Donations help fund, among other things, the Crisis Relief
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Ministry, which assisted 23 clients this past week for a total of $3,077, 22 families with food for an in-kind cost of $920 and one family with in-kind items totaling $50. “This week, the Crisis Ministry was able to help a family of six with children that has medical issues,” said Mark Champagne, the executive director of United Ministries of
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Sumter County. “Both parents are employed with the father doing lawn care to supplement their income. In July, the father was off work for two weeks due to annual July shutdown. His paycheck
was mishandled at the bank, and his deposit was delayed for 10 days. The Crisis Ministry was able to assist the family with their electric bill.” Summer of Caring is a partnership between The Sumter Item and United Ministries in which the newspaper collects money and gives it to the nonprofit for use in three areas. Besides Crisis Relief, the
DEATHS, B6 Dr. Yolyndra S. Green Mary W. Dyson Carroll R. Coker Eartha S. Martin Betty H. McCray
Julia M. Richburg Naomi Reid Barbara Ann Moore Helen Commander
WEATHER, A10 MORE RAIN
Expect some storms today and this evening HIGH 88, LOW 72
money goes toward the Emergency Shelter and Construction Ministry. “Recently an older, disabled gentleman came to the shelter who over the past year has frequented shelters in Myrtle Beach and Columbia,” Champagne said. “He felt that he could not find affordable
SEE CARING, PAGE A8
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3 SECTIONS, 22 PAGES VOL. 119, NO. 255
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